dbx® 160A - Kick, Snare, OH, Bass, Guitar, Rhodes & Vocal | Gear Review

[@theblowupdollsmusic]

You have the best compressor demos on youtube! Thank you for your time and passion in creating these videos.

[@ZedMartyProduction]

Thank you Matt!

[@Dionysus667]

I have a a dbx 560a, 166 and 160X, not really ever tried them on vocals. Never realized they (or this one at least) are so good for slamming a vocal!

[@mattg082]

Thanks for the demo! They just finally came back in stock after a year. Just picked one up for the weekend. Should sound great on vintage synths and bass!

[@dylandylan11731]

First time I've actually enjoyed listening to compressed guitar, it actually adds a tasty sustain, and doesn't crush the signal into mush. Nice!

Excellent video, Thanks! I just bought one of this DBX 160 A, I'm very excited!

[@beatchildproductions]

Excellent demo, man!

[@ZedMartyProduction]

Thanks, you‘re welcome!

[@motomoog]

Thanks Marty, great video. I just purchased one of these 160A made in USA on the Bay. For a good price. My first outboard comp. In a long time. Kind of hard to hear what’s it’s doing in my world but I think it’s kind a subtle difference at least for now. I have to learn how to use it better.

[@kh4009]

Great demo, im getting one

[@Donato2082]

Really nice on vocals!

[@bradalford9829]

These are great compressors. If you cant get a great sound using one of these then you need to hit the books and learn to use your gear. This is a classic. Proven to be good on a ton of recordings that we have all heard long before this post. It wouldn't be my number one pick, but does it do the job? Yes. The wave of ads targeting the gear heads leads some to believe they have to spend a ton of money for the color. Its a matter of what feels nice to your ears. And a matter of opinion. So thats mine. According to my wife I'm always wrong. :)

[@CaptainCrook99]

@Zed Marty Production Extremely useful video! It's great that you're applying multiple setting and not just showing a 4.1:1 ratio compressed and a bypassed signal. Would you reccomend getting a stereo pair?

[@ZedMartyProduction]

sure, why not! Great for stereo synth, bass, drums or even vocals.

[@1kingstan795]

Im thinking of pairinf this with a retro sta level for vocals i think it would sound very 3dimensional amd present soul and colorful with cleaness also

[@ToniJXN]

thats dope , i have to get one

[@wjniemi]

Great demo!

[@musestudios6115]

How do you use your dbx with your daw? I can see you control the pre recorded audio with the dbx and I have yet to figure that out?

[@ZedMartyProduction]

If you have Logic Pro you can use the I/O plugin for sending signals out of the DAW through the audio interface to an analog equipment. In my case, I use an analog mixer and the dbx is inserted on a channel. All tracks of the DAW go out through the interface to the mixer.

[@danielrenn3915]

So I am reading the comments. Suddenly the Bass sounds pretty nice and I was like, wow what is he doing now, so I am scrolling up to find he Bypassed the dbx.

[@ремдигга-в7щ]

))))))))

[@teckno_senpai]

LOL yeah that's kinda troubling .. haha

[@v3zMedia]

I'm looking to add a Mic Pre and Compressor to my vocal chain before it hits my Apollo 8. This DBX Sounds really good on Vox, what preamp were you using here?

[@ZedMartyProduction]

Yes, it's great on vocals! I didn't record this - it's from the Lewitt Microphones Multitrack Session.

[@shahrinshahriar4836]

Is it stereo compressor?

[@sacstudiosargentina]

No... it's mono but you can buy 2 dbx 160a and link them together

[@lostdream3333]

wow!!!!damn so good!!!!!! nice you make me buy it...lol

[@visigoth7]

Cheap and Awesome!

[@chrischoir3594]

you need eq on the kick drum more than you need compression

[@janosgrausza8790]

Any software version of DBX-160 can do this sound-level.

[@Davidzz1988]

You are delusionnal.

[@thedayones4918]

They can yes, how about while tracking?

[@antiHUMANDesigns]

Worked fairly well on vocals, pretty decent on the other things, but not good on kick and snare at all. Need to be able to set attack and release for those things. Still feels like a "cheap" compressor, doesn't sound particularly good.

[@dylandylan11731]

anti/HUMAN Designs 😂 the Dbx 160 sound is famous for kick, snare.... In the life world, people are still spec'ing these as inserts on a digital console for drums....moor a good reason. The classic over easy VCA sound of the 160 kills it on drums 😊

[@dylandylan11731]

And at Aud $799 per single channel of compression, I think you'll find it's not at the cheap end or scale, probably midrange. Behringer, tapco, Yamaha 2020's, apex, art, rolls, cheaper Dbx 166xl compressors are the cheap end/scale buddy.

[@antiHUMANDesigns]

@@dylandylan11731 Well, I clearly disagreed. :)

[@BORN7SUPREME]

@@dylandylan11731 You must not be aware, the same VCA tech in some of these old dbx are the same used in SSL

[@Pellelunden00]

SOund muddy and bad on the BD and snare - need attack and release!

[@225maine]

If it's in fact muddy..that comp won't help that.

[@MrNicknayme]

Those waveforms on the vox look a little dodgy..

[@ZedMartyProduction]

I know it looks a bit strange. It was recorded with the Lewitt 640 TS - it records on both sides and has a dual-output so you can change the Polar pattern after the recording. There‘s a special plugin that comes with mic. But it sounds great, doesn’t it?

[@dylandylan11731]

Zed Marty Production it does sound great! Nice job man

[@MisterManiac777]

I honestly prefer la2a plug ins, sounds thin and grainy. To beat "in the box" you need top end gear. Recording clean and using plug ins would sound better imho. From what I've heard I would prefer IGS One LA or Klark Technic KT2A on vocals.

[@1234321mike1234321]

you know this is literally a mainstay piece of hardware in studios all over the world despite its price, right?

[@MisterManiac777]

@@1234321mike1234321 Yeah, I love the 160A and the 560 as well. Great to level out a little and you can add more compression in the box. I was on to the bargain SM7B as vocal mic and dbx160a for a long time. Two of the best buys and loved by big names despite the low price. I just currently prefer to use plug ins for final touch up because you get breakup when you go hard with a 160A. If I can put an LA2A or Distressor behind it I'm good with the sound. I've just been using some really nice sounding plug ins lately and I prefer minimal cable interconnects on my chain. If I get a 500 rack with optical outs I will incorporate a mic pre, a dbx 560A and an optical compressor in link mode. I will then be able to go straight in to my RayDat card without extra cabling. I have LEDs set up and my 46 inch monitor tends to cause cable hum. I was just indicating my current preference, not trying to hate on the 160A. Just my opinion. Depends on the sound you are looking for.

[@1234321mike1234321]

@@MisterManiac777 am yet to hear the KT-76 but apparently that's also fantastic value for a 76 style clone

[@superstringsbro]

I love the la 2a

[@moritzschiekel2272]

i think on vocals its not that good it makes them not even it gives them a nother rythmic dynamic wich can be coole but have to go with the song